Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-22

power to leave greeting for the beloved onG
But after Re had entered the hall, in his effort
to close the door, so violently flung open BY
the storm. be suddenly became conscious Of
Katie in his arms. And while it ragged and
stormed without he kissed her. and ia wild
happiness he whispered: katie, do you love
meF' She did not answer, but her lips pressed
his
The next morning Lars stood on the shore
mending his boat, when Rob Steffel came by.
"You are early, though you came home
late. Were you with your sweetheart!'
Lars looked at him, red with anger. Es
struck the wood with his ak, and the chips
few far around
"Hoho!" continued the other you did not
have good luck, it seems"
Keep stillr' cried Lars. what is il to
you whether have good luck or not''
Rob Steffel stepped nearer. You are IN
just to me-" he said "A big fellow lin you
should not take it so neekly Christop6 has
plainly taken the fish away from you"
Lars made no answer, but his hand clasped
love for Christoph," continued Rob; "let us
join together against him." and he held out
| his hand
Lars, and turned away, resuming his work
Rob Steffel laughed scornfully. and went
away, but the sting that his words contained
remained In Lars breast. When the other
was out of sight he flung down his ak, and
went back to the village. Slowly, with down
cast head, be walked Before the house Of
old Mason he paused, then with sudden
resolution he entered. But, as il bound. he
| ST N<Ni tha \
Katie tenderly embraced by Christoph A
painful silence prevailed for moment, then
| Christoph stepped toward Lars, put out his
hand. and said: Katie is my betrothed
| since last evening. l intended TO come di-
rectly to you and tell you"
| He did not answer, only bitter smile quiv-
cred on his lips. 1t was excessively painful
to the girl. She felt what blow she had
given him, though blameless herself She
ionged to say something to him, but could
not find the right word. So she only looked
at him, and without speaking held out her
hand to him, but he turned away and left the
house.
Toward noon the shore was alive with men.
The sea cleaned in the sunshine again, the
waves played gently, and soft wind was
blowing. The day was favorable for largo
haul All the fishermen of the village were
gathered together, the nets and oars were
put into the boats, the sails spread wide, and
the little feet sailed far out into the broad,
beautiful sea. Katie stood on the shore,
sending greetings to her sweetheart as long as
bis boat was IN sight Then she went home,
smiling happily to herself She had much to
do. After she had seen to her Old
father, who sat quietly in his chair and
smoked short pipe, she went about her work
How it flew under her hands today, though
frequently she stopped. gazing down
lost in sweet dreams. Then she worked so
much the faster again. So hour after hour
few by UNDECIDED. At last the days task was
ended and Katie went TO the door But the
weather had changed, the sun had disap-
peared behind thick clouds and the sky hung
in gray folds over the sea The fishermen
also had finished their work. The rich booty
lay in the boats, promising a fine reward for
their hard labor. But in the east it was black
and threatening. They must reach home be-
fore the storm came OH. The little sails
spread out, tho ships few over the water,
causing the foam to break over the deep drip
ping sides. Then came the first blow strong
against the sails; the loaded boats threatened
to upset. The men Were forced to take in
sails and trust wholly to the oars 1t grew
dark, and the sea lifted itself restlesslv into
huge, far rolling waves. Then the storm
broke loose with wild force; it howled and
dashed the sea till it reared in short, foam
capped waves The men rowed with all their
might; the shore could not be fer away.
though it was not visible in the darkness.
Ahead of all the others shot Christoph's boat;
close behind him was Lars It seemed as if
the two were running a race for the safety Of
the shore. A wave seized Christoph's boat,
lifted it high and flung it with its broad side
against the end OF Lars vessel, breaking it in.
Lars saw it sinking before him. \ thought
shot through his heart, frightful ind vivid:
ILet the waves bury Christoph and Katie is
yours" But the thought was gone in mo-
ment; m the next he had leaned far out,
grasped the constant friend of his youth, now
struggling with death. But be lost his own
balance, sitting on the extreme edge He
flung out MS hand to catch hold OF something,
but found nothing, and plunged headlong. A
huge wave seized the boat threw it far from
the place, and in the roaring Of the waves a
last, despairing cry was lost
AT last the fishermen had painfully reached
the shore. Women and old men full of an-
guish stood waiting the returning ones
katie" cried voice from the darkness.
and the CIR. felt herself embraced by two
arms.
"Christoph. thank heaven tina; you are
hereln
She led him 10 her house. He was silent
all the way, only holding Der fast. She, too,
hardly spoke. When they reached the house, |
she noticed for the first time that his clothes |
were saturated, and asked the reason. Then |
his mouth quiver,d with repressed pain. |
while be answered:
katie, the storm destroyed my boat |
Lars suatched me from the waves, but no |
himself fell into the sea and
"W hat,' she asked, breathlessly
Il could not save him. he said almost in !
audibly.
After few days the sea washed tho body |
of Lars ashore. 1t was the only sacrifice it |
had demanded thnt day. Lars had no pa |
rents living, but even parents could not have |
shed more burning tears than Katie and |
ChristCph when be was buried in the little |
The thought of him, the con-
sciousness that his sacrifice bad secured their |
happiness never left them
Long after Katie went to the altar with |
Christoph, and when they came from the |
church their first steps were directed TO the /
grave Of Lars.-Translated from the Gerrnan
by L. Y StuT.
The Universal Custom
The only custom which seems TO to uni